Cessna 185 Skywagon Explained

The Cessna 185 Skywagon is a six-seat, single-engined, general aviation light aircraft manufactured by Cessna. It first flew as a prototype in July 1960, with the first production model completed in March 1961. The Cessna 185 is a high-winged aircraft with non-retractable conventional landing gear and a tailwheel.

Over 4,400 were built with production ceasing in 1985. When Cessna re-introduced some of its most popular models in the 1990s, the tailwheel equipped Cessna 180 and 185 were not put back into production.

Design and development

The aircraft is basically a Cessna 180 with a strengthened fuselage. The main difference between the two aircraft is the larger vertical fin on the 185 and the 300 hp (224 kW) Continental IO-520-D engine as opposed to the 230 hp (172 kW) Continental O-470-S fitted to the Cessna 180. The exception was that a Continental Motors IO-470-F engine of 260 hp (194 kW) was initially fitted until midway through the 1966 production year. The later model Skywagon II has a factory fitted avionics package.

The Skywagon can also be fitted with floats, amphibious floats, or skis. The AgCarryall variant of the 185 adds a 151-gallon belly chemical tank and removable spray booms for aerial application. It is also possible to fit a cargo pod under the fuselage that can carry an extra 300 lb (136 kg).

Operational history

The 180 and 185 are widely used in bush flying, the commercial transport of passengers and freight to rudimentary, remote airstrips, lakes and snowfields, primarily in Canada and Alaska.

Variants

Civil variants

Cessna has historically used model years similar to U.S. auto manufacturers, with sales of new models typically starting a few months prior to the actual calendar year.

185 Skywagon
  • 1961 model year powered by a 2600NaN0 Continental IO-470-F engine with six seats and a gross weight of 32000NaN0 as a landplane. Certified on 31 January 1961. 238 built.[1] [2]
    185A Skywagon
  • 1962 model year with new wingtips and position lights, two electric auxiliary fuel pumps, and vernier throttle/mixture controls. Certified on 20 September 1961. 275 built.
    185B Skywagon
  • 1963 model year with an overhead light console, magnesium rudder pedals, and a single electric auxiliary fuel pump. Certified on 25 June 1962. 141 built.
    185C Skywagon
  • 1964 model year with a 52A/12V alternator, a manual tailwheel lock, and dual brake linings. Certified on 19 July 1963. 124 built.
    185D Skywagon
  • 1965 model year with open-view control wheels and a redesigned instrument panel with center-mounted instruments and an integrated engine instrument cluster. Certified on 17 June 1964. 191 built.
    Introduced for the 1966 model year with an increased gross weight of 33000NaN0. The A185E was also offered in 1966 with a 3000NaN0 Continental IO-520-D engine and a gross weight of 33500NaN0. The 185E was discontinued for the 1967 model year, while the A185E received a pointed propeller spinner, individual center passenger seats, a "split-bus" electrical system, and a 60A alternator. 1968 introduced a new automatic induction air system as well as new seat belts, a baggage door, and seat adjustment handles. 1969 introduced optional 300/400-series ARC avionics. 1970 introduces a side-loading door on the left side of the fuselage and conical camber wingtips. An agricultural aircraft version was introduced in 1972 as the AgCarryall with a 1510NaN0 chemical tank, removable 30-nozzle spray booms with a wind-driven spray system, windshield wire cutters, and a cable deflector on the vertical stabilizer. Certified on 24 September 1965. 988 total built; 138 (1966 185E), 45 (1966 A185E), 450 (1967–1969), 347 (1970–1972 Skywagon), and 8 (1972 AgCarryall).
  • Introduced for the 1973 model year with a "Camber-Lift" wing, dual nose-mounted landing/taxi lights, a redesigned instrument panel with a split-rocker master switch, and padded control wheels. The 1974 model year introduced optional cabin door bubble windows for improved downward visibility. 1976 introduced nylon seating fabric, airspeed indicators in knots, and optional polycarbonate heater outlets. 1977 introduced redesigned control wheels, an improved fuel selector valve, and a strengthened tailwheel. 1978 introduced a 28V electrical system, an avionics master power switch, and the Skywagon II with the preferred options package as standard, including IFR avionics. 1980 introduced a three-bladed propeller, replacing the two-bladed unit on previous model years. Certified on 16 October 1973. 2,272 total built; 196 (1973 Skywagon), 7 (1973 AgCarryall), 225 (1974 Skywagon), 15 (1974 AgCarryall), 211 (1975 Skywagon), 31 (1975 AgCarryall), 279 (1976 Skywagon), 18 (1976 AgCarryall), 288 (1977 Skywagon), 16 (1977 AgCarryall), 218 (1978 Skywagon), 7 (1978 AgCarryall), 255 (1979), 200 (1980), 185 (1981), 70 (1982), 20 (1983), 8 (1984), and 23 (1985).

    • Military variants

    U-17A: 63 185Bs, 34 185Cs, 83 185Ds, 72 185Es, and 13 A185Es acquired by the USAF to supply to a number of countries under the Military Assistance Program.
  • U-17B: 201 A185Es and 10 A185Fs acquired by the USAF to supply to a number of countries under the Military Assistance Program.

    • Operators

    Civil operators

    The Cessna 185 is popular with air charter companies and is operated by private individuals and companies.

    Military operators

    As part of the United States Military Assistance Program, Cessna received a contract to supply the United States Air Force with the Skywagon. These were intended for delivery overseas and were designated U-17A and U-17B.

    Laos

    Accidents and Incidents

    Specifications (1978 Cessna 185 II landplane)

    Specification for differing configurations

    Landplane Floatplane Amphibian
    Length 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m) 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
    Height12 ft 2 in (3.71 m) 12 ft 8 in (3.86 m)
    Empty weight1,745 lb (792 kg) 1,910 lb (866 kg) 2,165 lb (982 kg)
    MTOW3,320 lb (1,506 kg) 3,265 lb (1,481 kg) on land
    3,100 lb (1,406 kg) on water
    Max. speed136 knots (252 km/h) 141 knots (261 km/h) 135 knots (251 km/h)
    Range 516 nm (957 km) 503 nm (933 km) 482 nm (893 km)
    Service ceiling 16,400 ft (5,000 m) 15,300 ft (4,700 m)
    Rate of climb 960 ft/min (293 m/min) 970 ft/min (296 m/min)
    Wing loading 19.1 lb/ft2 (93.3 kg/m2) 18.8 lb/ft2 (91.8 kg/m2)

    References

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. 3A24 Revision 39. 2010-03-10. Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Administration. February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100307013644/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/37377ef4b5f2ca218625756e006e0b64/$FILE/3A24%20Rev%2039.pdf. 2010-03-07. live.
    2. Phillips, Edward H: Wings of Cessna, Model 120 to the Citation III, Flying Books, 1986.
    3. Web site: Se distinguió al Tcnl aviador de Ejército Pedro Acosta . es . Ejército Argentino . 2 December 2015 . April 16, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160423181043/http://www.ejercito.mil.ar/sitio/2015/noticias/noticia.asp?Id=2621 . 23 April 2016 . live .
    4. Andrade 1982, Page 27
    5. Andrade 1982, Page 50
    6. Andrade 1982, Page 58
    7. Andrade 1982, Page 94
    8. Hagedorn 1986, p. 67.
    9. Web site: Peace Research Institute . Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 1965. 11 February 2021.
    10. Andrade 1982, Page 107
    11. Andrade 1982, Page 109
    12. Andrade 1982, Page 113
    13. Web site: Cessna 185 Skywagon | Jamaican Defence Force. April 17, 2016 .
    14. Churchill 1997, Page 121
    15. Andrade 1982, Page 166
    16. Andrade 1982, Page 174
    17. Andrade 1982, Page 176
    18. Andrade 1982, Page 177
    19. Andrade 1982, Page 181
    20. Niccoli 1998, p. 38.
    21. Andrade 1982, Page 188
    22. Andrade 1982, Page 195
    23. Andrade 1982, Page 224
    24. Andrade 1982, Page 229
    25. Andrade 1982, Page 335
    26. Web site: The Devil in the Details, and the Seat Rails.... Check-Six.com. 21 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130816091526/http://check-six.com/Crash_Sites/N95KW-Cessna-Seat-Rails-1989.htm. 16 August 2013. live.

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